Art Appreciation This is a writing exercise. Research, consider, examine and discuss Stonehenge but leave your voice in it. Place quotations if you use direct quotations. Please cite source(s,) we w
Important Mechanics For Writing About Art This document teaches you how to punctuate and identify art works. You will use this for each art object you discuss. We all understand that every discipline has its own set of terminology.  Physics and IT terms elude me and leave me scratching my head, thinking I have NO CLUE what they are talking about!  Well, art has its own terminology, too.  So, we have to begin with that terminology, so we can all speak the same language; and in order to do, we must also follow the rules for writing the language. So, here are some guidelines for answering questions in this class: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! Always use artists’ last name, such as, Picasso, not Pablo (his first name). Be sure to ALWAYS include each artist’s name and the date of an object when discussing an artwork. Always italicize or underline titles of paintings. After the first 2 weeks, I will deduct points if not done correctly. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE: I would like you to provide: Picasso, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, 1907 Always include the date of a work of art (painting, sculpture, photography, etc.) Always give the medium of the work in question, such as, oil on canvas, carved marble, mosaics, fresco, etc—you find these in the captions under the pictures in your text.  The materials (medium/media) are important choices an artist makes. PLEASE do NOT write like you talk. Watch for run on sentences. Draw a breath and place a period, then, start another sentence. IN A CLASSROOM SETTING, WE STRIVE TO BE MORE ERUDITE—MORE CORRECT. Be very specific regarding facts and terms. Include page numbers for each image from the book, so that we can all follow. In order to get comfortable with reading a painting: LOOK at the painting, see what interests you. THEN: READ a painting from the background first. Note what you see, then move to the middle ground, then, look at the foreground.  All of the parts are important. This is called exploring the pictorial space. Artists do not leave in accidents or things they do not want to be there—so each thing means something. So, think like this: artist/architect, title (italicized OR UNDERLINED), date, medium, and then write. You may use the internet at any point in this class for research and embellishment; however, YOU MAY NOT USE WIKIPEDIA AS A REFERENCE SOURCE FOR YOUR TERM PAPER. You must cite any sources you use in your work, whether Forums or Papers.  You may not directly copy from any source. I do not want quotations, I want you to read, think, and write in your own words.  It is a very serious problem if you cut and paste from websites or your book.  This is called plagiarizing and AMU has a strong policy against this behavior.  Check your student handbook regarding plagiarizing. DO NOT EVER use the same example twice in your assignments. Always find another example. In art appreciation and art history, writing MORE is always better. This is not a class to be a person of a few words. Give your questions thought and enjoy really looking carefully at the art.